Counterurbanisation is the movement of population and economic activity away from urban areas. People choose to live on the edge of urban areas because these areas are typically unpleasant due to pollution, crime, and traffic. Additionally, urban areas can be very busy and noisy, causing people to seek out less crowded and quieter places like rural-urban fringes or even the countryside. Another reason for counterurbanisation may be the increase in cars over recent decades, which has made people more mobile and able to travel further.
Many people decide to move away from the city to find a more peaceful place where they can relax. They may still need to travel into the city for work, but prefer not to live in busy and noisy places like Manchester with lots of traffic and crowds. For those who have cars, it is still possible to commute from quieter places like Sutton while enjoying a more peaceful lifestyle.
Prestbury is a rural village located near Macclesfield. Counter urbanisation occurs here due to the large and expensive houses, which attract wealthy individuals who require links to Manchester, such as footballers Wayne Rooney and Carlos Tevez. The peaceful rural setting and spacious homes make it an attractive location for these individuals. However, the village lacks services and transport options for its residents. Many of the inhabitants are affluent and do not require public transportation, but some elderly residents cannot drive and therefore need access to these services that are currently unavailable.
